Category: Reviews

It’s high time I write a review on one of my favorite staple nootropics – Piracetam. Today only makes sense to pound this puppy out as I’ve just recently dosed my standard 4 Grams after a small hiatus.

Piracetam has long been the most recommended nootropic out there. People must be getting blue in the face by now helping out new comers when they ask,

“What nootropic should I try first??”

The original answer was Piracetam and will most likely always be Piracetam. So what gives? Why is Piracetam the highest rated and most recommended nootropic of all times?

History of Piracetam

Early in the 1960’s it was demonstrated among the scientific community that the neurotransmitter GABA had significant effects on the brain. Creating drugs which effected GABA quickly shot to the forefront of all pharmaceutical research resulting in a number of interesting compounds.

One of these compounds was Piracetam. Developed in Belgium at UCB (Union Chimique Belge) Piracetam was intended to be a sleeping agent with strong anti anxiety and sedative effects. Upon further research, it was demonstrated that the scientists had missed the mark – no such effects were noted with the newly invented compound.

However, the scientists were not dismayed and with the help of leading researcher, Corneliu Giurgea, Piracetam was spun as a completely novel genre of pharmaceuticals he coined as nootropics.

Mr Giurgea dove balls deep into understanding and defining the interesting properties of Piracetam. He demonstrated a number of unique qualities present in Piracetam and layed the framework for what a compound required to be classified as a nootropic.

He noted Piracetams unique quality as a neuroprotective agent. He also noted Piracetams ability to enhance certain cognitive functions of the brain. This turned into the 2 classic properties we refer to when discussing whether or not something can be defined as a nootropic:

1.) The compound must be neuroprotective

2.) The compound must enhance cognition while remaining non-toxic

A number of spin offs came out of the Piracetam experiments with lack luster results. It was only later we began to identify and create other novel and exciting nootropics. As you can see, we have Piracetam to thank for all these fun “smart drugs.”

Read this PDF for a more in depth history of Piracetam and the origins of nootropics.

Is Piracetam Safe?

Another thing to note is the very very low toxicity level of Piracetam. In fact, the toxicity level is SO low an LD-50 hasn’t even been shown or demonstrated despite many attempts. The LD-50 is the dosage required to kill off half the test subjects. Thankfully this stuff is tested on rats but the data can generally be extrapolated to humans in most cases.

Piracetam Dosage

There is no recommended dose of Piracetam. People used to recommend dosages from 500mg – 1G but recent anecdotal reports (including my own) have discovered a much more effective experience in the 2G – 4G range. Start with a small dose and then work your way up from there. For example, start off with a gram taken twice daily for a week and see how you feel. No effects? Ramp up the dosage.

It’s important to note that while some feel the effects of Piracetam instantly, it can take up to a week before you see any marked improvements. Be patient and always track your dose.

Remember, this is a nootropic not a drug. Many nootropics are subtle and take time before they are noticed.

My personal review of Piracetam

Firstly, I have been taking Piracetam on and off for well over a year. There have been months where I’ve taken it every day and there have been periods where I stopped dosing completely.

This has given me a finger tip feel of what this nootropic has to offer. For me, I feel Piracetam almost instantly. I mix it into juice or water and slug it down straight away.

I go from feeling depressed, low, and unmotivated, to focused and mentally energetic. I know it’s not placebo either. While I CAN get things done without Piracetam, it’s a struggle and I’m forced to expend the majority of my willpower on even the smallest of tasks.

When I’m properly dosed, I have the mental energy to get things done and ideas flow. Writing this post now I can feel as if I could type forever. I can always tell what posts I wrote on Piracetam because they’re usually 3X as long haha!

In one of my latest videos I discussed a few notable behavioral side effects of Piracetam that I personally experience. One of these side effects is a kind of emotional numbing. Things which would otherwise rub me the wrong way have little to no effect. I’m a very sensitive person and even the smallest words or gestures from people can put me in my head and ruin a whole day. I know, pathetic!

On Piracetam I don’t give a shit. Words that would bother me go in one ear and out the other. I have very low tolerance for other peoples bullshit and actually find most conversations rather annoying.

It’s as if the Piracetam gives you an ability to block out external stimulus and get things done. For this reason I recommend Piracetam to individuals who find themselves getting over emotional when they need to be getting things done. If you’re surrounded by people who annoy you, Piracetam will block them out and allow you to hone in on your task.

Great stuff for work and dealing with negative emotions, especially in social situations. It does appear to take you out of your head and into the real world where there is good work to do.

Benefits and side effects of Piracetam

Piracetam for memory and focus

The second characteristic of Piracetam is a laser sharp focus and ability to absorb information. You can easily connect ideas and become very creative. As a writer and content producer I have an endless stream of ideas I can capitalize on at a moments notice.

I don’t know anybody who could not use a little more creativity in their life. I find myself actively finding solutions to problems rather than passively accepting my fate. I ask myself, what would El Chapo do?

Long term Piracetam use

Is Piracetam safe for the long term? While there are no studies available to answer this question, there are people who have been using Piracetam for a very long time. Me being one of those people, I can say I haven’t experienced any adverse side effects.

With that said, I have no doubt Piracetam has rewired my brain for the better. I’m more focused on the work that needs to be done rather than the drama going on around me. Instead of going full blown ADD I can easily determine what courses of action are required to reach my next goal.

While this seems rather robotic, I can assure you my emotional faculties are well intact. They just seem to be more justified and well measured than before. My mind is constantly going through a series of appropriate synaptic questions:

“Is this worth arguing about? Is this worth getting emotional about?”

It’s a nice change from constantly being at the mercy of external events and internal emotions.

Piracetam and Choline

Piracetam works by modulating the brains usage of Acetycholine. Acetycholine is a crucial neurotransmitter for memory and learning. Choline is a direct precursor to Acetycholine so it is suggested that you also take supplemental Choline alongside Piracetam. This is especially important if you begin to experience headaches from continued Piracetam use. This means your brain is blowing through available stores of Choline.

Where to buy Piracetam

I always stress buying your nootropics from the most legit source possible. Nootropic vendors come and go but Peak Nootropics have withstood the test of time always deliver the best product and powder. It’s where I buy all of my nootropics including Piracetam.

Final Thoughts

Piracetam is a safe an effective nootropic worth experimenting with. If you have problems with focus, mental energy, or brain fog, Piracetam could quickly become your right hand man.

Piracetam should NOT be taken in place of a healthy lifestyle but only as a supplement. Nootropics are meant to take you to the next level of life. The benefits you see from Piracetam will only be compounded by how healthy you are.

Today I’m excited to unleash a review on one of my favorite nootropics – Phenylpiracetam. This is a well established nootropic in the community and known for its rare characteristic of “just working.”

As you may have discovered through your own personal experimentation, many nootropics are hit or miss when it comes to effecting you in a meaningful way. Phenylpiracetam is a breathe of fresh air if you’re sick and tired of trying nootropics with no results.

What is Phenylpiracetam?

Phenylpiracetam is a piracetam derived compound. It’s basically Piracetam with an added Phenyl group to the chemical structure. Don’t worry if this knowledge both confuses and bores the shit out of you. I’m not a neuroscientist and don’t understand chemical structures either. What I do know is Phenylpiracetam kicks my ass into gear and gives me hulk level strength and endurance.

Phenylpiracetam qualifies as a nootropic thanks to its neuroprotective qualities. In fact, Phenylpiracetam is a much stronger neuroprotective agent than Piracetam.

Fun fact: Phenylpiracetam is banned by the World Anti Doping Agency meaning it’s illegal to use if you’re playing professional sports or competing in the olympics. This is a direct testament to the potency of this nootropic. Like I said, it just works and it works wonders.

My Personal Review of Phenylpiracetam

I’ve been a big fan of Piracetam for years. For the longest time I had such great results with the compound I did not see the need to expand my horizons into unfamiliar territory. One fine day this changed and I picked up some Phenylpiracetam powder from my favorite supplier.

I tore into the package like a raving beast, ready and willing to take a massive attack dose. I wanted to see how deep the rabbit hole went with this stuff.

I have a unique approach to taking nootropics in powder form. I simply mix the substance into a small amount of water and slug it down in one gulp. I was expecting the powder to taste similar to Piracetam but I was wrong – it tasted much worse.

This did not deter me from slugging it down right on the spot. I made a mental note to mix the powder in with fruit juice next time.

Then came the waiting game. Nootropics are interesting because there’s always a period of time I call the “placebo window.” This is the time where you think you might be feeling something but it’s your own mind messing with you. This is why it’s so difficult to determine the efficacy of some of the more subtle nootropics. Placebo can be stronger than the real McCoy.

Anyways, about an hour in I started feeling a surge of energy that could not be placebo. It was too powerful. My mind began to rev into action and I experienced a powerful boost in energy. All lethargy and apathy was lifted and I was moved to actually do something.

I went for a walk. I found myself power walking up steep hills. This was certainly a nice change from my day to day sense of feeling tired and too weak to do anything physical.

Overall the effects lasted about 2 – 3 hours with a positive after glow lasting the remainder of the day.

Phenylpiracetam for sports, athletes, and working out

Where Phenylpiracetam truly shines in my opinion is the compounds powerful effects on physical energy levels. Maybe you want to begin a workout regiment to lose weight and get in shape but can’t muster up the energy to hit the gym.

Phenylpiracetam is going to kick you into high gear and force you to get up and get moving. This kind of nootropic is not something to take and veg out in front of Netflix. This nootropic is for those times when you need raw physical energy to shred body fat and pack on slabs of muscle. More practically, I can see this being used to help your friend move all that heavy junk to the new place.

Phenylpiracetam for Memory and Learning

While I did notice some cognitive benefits they weren’t quite pronounced as Piracetam. Phenylpiracetam will give you energy, both physical and mental but I’m not sure it’s an effective agent for memory recall or learning. If you need extra energy to cram through a night of studying I can see where Phenylpiracetam would be useful. Especially if you’re tired, Phenylpiracetam will give you the raw energy required to power through anything in your path.

Phenylpiracetam side effects

Use Phenylpiracetam sparingly on an as needed basis. As always, if you need a drug or compound to function you have to take a hard look at the core issue of your energy problem. Phenylpiracetam is a powerful nootropic not without side effects.

One of the classic side effects of these racetam derived compounds is headaches. This can be corrected by adding a choline source such as Alpha-GPC.

Always keep in mind these compounds have not been studied over the long term so we don’t yet understand the potential consequences yet. For this reason, I recommend using nootropics sparingly and getting most of your cognitive boosts from foods and lifestyle choices.

With that said, have fun with this stuff when you decide to partake. A couple times a week is a good starting point. Don’t over do it and keep your dosages at safe levels.

Phenylpiracetam Dosage

100 – 200mg is the standard dose of Phenylpiracetam. If I’m going to workout I will often times take up to 400mg.

As I warn in most of my posts, start with a low dose and then work your way up from there to find what is optimal for your personal bio-chemistry.

Final Thoughts

Phenylpiracetam is a great nootropic and one I consider to be a staple. It’s one of those nootropics that just works across the board when you look at the reviews of other users. Keep this stuff in your medicine cabinet for those days where you just can’t seem to muster up any energy!

I’m not the most jacked guy but I enjoy lifting weights and putting on muscle. Part of putting on muscle and having energy post workouts is eating the right foods to fuel your body. Your muscles need protein to rebuild and your mind and body need to be replenished from the nutrients you expelled during your workout.

The thing is, it’s HARD to get all these nutrients from food. I learned about Onnits Hemp Force Protein powder after cruising around their site one afternoon. I’m a huge fan of the Alpha Brain and Shroom Tech products and wanted to see what else they had to offer.

What’s inside?

It’s crucial to examine the ingredients of anything you put in your body. Lucky for us, Onnit are big proponents of making products from whole natural foods.

Hemp Protein – The driving force behind this powerful powder is hemp protein. This is a plant based compound derived from the cannabis plant. Note that hemp protein contains zero psychoactive properties (you aren’t going to get high.) It features a complete amino acid profile and contains a dense amount of protein and essential fatty acids. Hemp is a nutritionally dense food and a great alternative for vegans, vegetarians, or anybody who is lactose intolerant.

Maca extract – Maca is an interesting vegetable that’s seen heavy use in ancient cultures. It grows on top of the tallest mountains in Peru and is heralded as a potent healing herb and powerful aphrodisiac. Maca gives you the energy to grind through your workouts and provides extra stamina in the sack (giggity.)

Cocoa – Not much to say about this one. It makes the powder taste better and provides a boost in mood. One thing to note about Onnit Hemp Force is it tastes better than any other protein powder I’ve tried, and that’s including Optimum Nutrition’s own chocolate blend.

Personal Review

It’s the best tasting protein powder I’ve tried. It’s a rich chocolate taste that actually tastes like real chocolate. Not too sweet and not to bitter. The 100% cocoa powder I believe truly makes this the best tasting shake around.

The Maca gives me a huge boost in libido. You may want to avoid this powder if your sex drive is already through the roof. However, if you’re lacking in that area you cannot afford not to try Onnit Hemp Force.

I do enjoy that this is a completely whole foods and vegan product. Even though I am not vegan myself I like to mix things up. For me, cutting back on animal protein has shot my health and vitality through the roof. I think a little meat is good but not in the amounts the standard person is used to eating.

Whey, casein and other forms of dairy can also create inflammation and upset your digestive system. Plant based proteins are generally well tolerated across a diverse set of individuals.

Overall I enjoy Hemp Force and recommend it to anyone looking for a high quality protein powder.

Alpha Brain Instant is a spin off of the classic Alpha Brain. It has all the ingredients and benefits of the original Alpha Brain in a powdered form. Mixing Alpha Brain into your morning coffee or drink allows the nootropic ingredients of this proven formula to absorb directly into your system.

Alpha Brain vs Alpha Brain Instant

While the original Alpha Brain product is highly effective, taking supplements in pill form takes much longer for your body to process. Alpha Brain instant bypasses this process and mainlines the dose straight into your system so you can be locked, cocked, and ready to rock for anything.

Why wait an hour for the effects to kick in when you can flip a switch and be completely turned on?

It should also be noted that Alpha Brain Instant contains MORE of Onnits signature “Flow Blend” formula. This formula contains 3 of the mixtures most potent ingredients – L-Theanine, L-Tyrosine, and Oat Straw. As I mentioned in my review of Alpha Brain, I attribute most of the cognitive benefits in the nootropic to these compounds.

I also mentioned how I was concerned there wasn’t a large enough dose of these ingredients in Alpha Brain to truly deliver what I call the “therapeutic dose.” Alpha Brain Instant delivers by ramping up the dosages and kicking the original formula into overdrive.

Alpha Brain Instant Ingredients

Please refer to my Alpha Brain Review for a detailed description of each ingredient in Alpha Brain. I discuss what ingredients are the true powerhouses and which ingredients I believe are completely filler. In summary, there’s a lot of good stuff in this nootropic but a few of the ingredients are simply filler.

Does Alpha Brain Instant Work?

Yes. In fact, it does exactly what it claims – delivers all the cognitive benefits of the original Alpha Brain INSTANTLY. By Instantly I mean 15 – 20 minutes as opposed to an hour with the original Alpha Brain. If you mix this stuff into your morning coffee get ready to have your ass kicked into high gear. For those of you familiar with the original formula prepare for a much stronger experience.

My Thoughts on Alpha Brain Instant

Alpha Brain Instant is a drinkable version of Alpha Brain and also slightly stronger. I enjoy taking my nootropics in liquid form. The quicker onset of the nootropic is indeed appreciated. I’m not one to simply roll out of bed bright eyed and bushy tailed in the morning. With Alpha Brain Instant I crack out the door ready to attack the day.

The taste of the powder is interesting and you can either buy peach flavored or spice flavored. The spice is my least favorite. The peach tastes like an actual peach drink. Sure, it’s not the best to mix into your coffee but I’m not a snob when it comes to food and beverages. Nootropics are not a culinary experience for me.

I’ve also mixed them into ice cold water which is probably the easiest and tasteful way to take the packets.

You could easily squeeze a 60 day supply out of this stuff if you only use half a packet a day. Some people are extremely sensitive to Alpha Brain and react strongly. Like I mentioned, the packets contain MORE of the active ingredients in the original Alpha Brain so you could easily get away with taking less.

The Price Tag and Building Tolerance

These packets are expensive at $59.95 a box but well worth it. For this reason I don’t take the Alpha Brain Instant everyday. I might use them a couple times a week. You can easily build up a tolerance to the ingredients in Alpha Brain. I’ve personally experimented with many of the ingredients by themselves and can say that nootropics like L-Theanine and L-Tyrosine certainly build up tolerance over time and eventually lose their power.

Reports from other users also suggest that Alpha Brain simply stops working after 30 days. For this reason I think it’s best to cycle all Alpha Brain products so you can consistently experience the benefits.

Where To Purchase

Looking for a boost in mood? If you’re feeling low there’s lots of actions you can take to elevate your sense of well being. Nootropics and supplements offer a range of options for your pleasure and consumption. A nice pre made stack I recommend is Onnits New Mood. New Mood contains a number of powerful ingredients designed to work with your body to pump out loads of those feel good neurotransmitters.

How does New Mood work?

New mood works by increasing your natural levels of Serotonin. Serotonin is the primary neurotransmitter responsible for feeling at peace, happy, and calm. When your brain doesn’t have enough of this neurotransmitter you can easily dive deep into worry, anxiousness, and paranoia. You might notice your ability to fall asleep is inhibited and your mood is all over the place.

Serotonin is a crucial neurotransmitter for feeling good and at peace with your life situation. Healthy levels of this chemical will keep you calmer than a Buddhist monk with years of training even in the most nerve racking situations.

New Mood Ingredients

New mood contains a number of powerful herbs, vitamins, and minerals to bolster healthy levels of serotonin in your brain.

Valerian root extract – Valerian has made itself known as the most powerful herb to calm the mind and body. It’s been used since way back in the days of old as a relaxing tincture. Ancient civilizations would brew the flowers and leaves into a tea as an easy way to consume the benefits. If you find yourself racked with anxiety Valerian is going to tether your spirit back into a grounded center of peace.

Chamomile flower extract – another herb well known to relax your nerves after a stressful day. For me, Chamomile tea at night sets the mood for a restorative sleep. Your energy levels and mood are greatly effected by the quality of your sleep the night before.

Lemon balm leaf extract – Lemon is an elevating and cleansing helper in all its forms. Even the smell of lemon can provide a mental boost and ingesting lemon will cleanse and nourish the mind and body. Good to see this one on here.

Jujube seed extract – Jujube has its origins in China and has seen widespread use in traditional Chinese medicine as a powerful herb to treat restlessness. Following suit with the other ingredients, Jujube is another herb that’s going to calm you down, relieve stress, and elevate your sense of well being.

Tryptophan – Perhaps the powerhouse ingredient in the entire New Mood stack. Tryptophan is a direct precursor to 5-HTP, the chemical required to produce Serotonin in your brain.

5-HTP – The direct precursor to Serotonin. No 5-HTP means no Serotonin and no happy feelings. Just a dull existence.

Magnesium – One of my favorite minerals to calm anxiety and chill me out. Magnesium is known as the original chill pill. Magnesium has been shown to alleviate major depression, relieve anxiety, and counter a host of other physical and mental ailments. Stress causes you to use up magnesium at a rapid rate which depletes the bodies natural stores and leads to all the problems mentioned above. Reintroducing magnesium into your diet reverses the problems and restores the mind and body back to a healthy state.

Niacin (Vitamin B3) – Niacin is a vasodilator, increasing the diameter of your small veins and capillaries. This allows for more nutrients to enter your system at a rapid rate. Niacin raises good cholesterol and helps manage the bad forms.

Vitamin B6 – Another crucial B vitamin responsible for hundreds of critical processes in the brain and body. Most significantly, B6 facilitates the production of Serotonin.

Does New Mood Work?

Having experimented with all these ingredients, I can tell you that New Mood is definitely effective. It’s not something I would take during the day. For me, Serotonin makes me extremely calm and sleepy. This is a night time stack in my opinion although your experience might vary.

If you have crippling anxiety I can see this being used during the day to calm your nerves and allow you to function.

Serotonin is one of those neurotransmitters that effects everybody in a different way. For some, extra Serotonin puts them right to sleep (me.) For others, it’s perfect for increasing feelings of well being and going about the day with zero worries.

I can’t say for certain how New Mood will effect you. I can say that it WILL have some kind of effect. There are cases where people do not respond well to 5-HTP and Tryptophan. This is also NOT a supplement you would take if you’re already taking anti-depressants. The combination could lead to Serotonin Syndrome.

Overall, the ingredients are very solid and New Mood is worth experimenting with if you are finding yourself overly anxious or depressed.